Ship of Fools: Caption Photo Contest Question

Thread: Caption Photo Contest Question Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by BulldogSacristan (# 11239) on :

What, exactly, is going on in this photo? It looks like a low mass with the veiled chalice on the altar and two candles, but there is a deacon in dalmatic. What would he or she do at a low mass? If you're going to have a deacon, why not scrounge up a sub-deacon and just do a proper high mass? I thought part of what made a low mass low is that it's missing some of the participants. Can you, in fact, have a deacon at a low mass?

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

Apparently you can. From The General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

quote:
94. After the Priest, the Deacon, in virtue of the sacred Ordination he has received, holds first place among those who minister in the celebration of the Eucharist.

116. If at any celebration of Mass a Deacon is present, he should exercise his function.

171. When he is present at the celebration of the Eucharist, a Deacon should exercise his ministry, wearing sacred vestments.

252. At a Mass celebrated by a Priest with only one minister to assist him and to make the responses, the rite of Mass with the people is followed (cf. nos. 120-169), the minister saying the people’s parts if appropriate.

253. If, however, the minister is a Deacon, he performs his proper functions (cf. nos. 171–186) and likewise carries out the other parts, that is, those of the people.

[ 07. November 2013, 17:05: Message edited by: Amanda B. Reckondwythe ]

Posted by BulldogSacristan (# 11239) on :

Okay, point taken, but I doubt the GIRM distinguishes between high masses and low masses anyway.

But what among those people who do, presumably like the people in the picture.

Posted by Ad Orientem (# 17574) on :

What photo? I can't see any photo.

Posted by BulldogSacristan (# 11239) on :

Caption Contest Photo

Posted by stonespring (# 15530) on :

But isn't the GIRM for Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) Masses? If this were an Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) Mass, the rubrics from the 1962 Missal would apply, with whatever amendations were made in the recent expansions of authorization for use of the Extraordinary Form. Can there be a Priest-and-Deacon-only Mass in the Extraordinary Form?

Posted by Ceremoniar (# 13596) on :

quote:
Originally posted by stonespring:
But isn't the GIRM for Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) Masses? If this were an Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) Mass, the rubrics from the 1962 Missal would apply, with whatever amendations were made in the recent expansions of authorization for use of the Extraordinary Form. Can there be a Priest-and-Deacon-only Mass in the Extraordinary Form?

The picture appears to be from an EF mass, or an AC parish that strongly follows that form of liturgy. I say this because of the presence of altar cards on the altar, which I am betting are English, not Latin, by the style.

Traditionally, there would only be a vested deacon at Solemn Mass. However, beginning in 1957, there was some provision made for "semi-solemn Mass," with deacon, but no subdeacon. (The photo shows no other servers, so I am betting it is Anglican, rather than an EF Roman liturgy). This was short-lived, as the reformed liturgy of the 1970 missal eliminated the High/Low praxis, and one could see a vested deacon at any Mass.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

Apart from anything else, why is the priest wearing what looks like Granny's lace curtains?

[Projectile]

Ian J (who detests ecclesiastical lace.....)

Posted by Ceremoniar (# 13596) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
Apart from anything else, why is the priest wearing what looks like Granny's lace curtains?

Ian J (who detests ecclesiastical lace.....)

I like it. That amount works on a feast, such as Pentecost. But about half that is good for any Sunday or feast.

Posted by NatDogg (# 14347) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
Apart from anything else, why is the priest wearing what looks like Granny's lace curtains?

Ian J (who detests ecclesiastical lace.....)

I agree. It's terrible, awful, an abomination . . . [Projectile]

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

I don't mind ecclaesiastical lace - but this isn't the right stuff: it IS net curtaining.

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

And why does the deacon's alb appear to be covering his shoes? I bet he trips over it when he stands up.

Posted by Vade Mecum (# 17688) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
And why does the deacon's alb appear to be covering his shoes? I bet he trips over it when he stands up.

Not at all. Any server/acolyte/subdeacon/deacon worth their salt knows how to rise, go down stairs balancing a tray, genuflect quickly, or generally swish about in a long dress...

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

...which is secretly what a lot of them would prefer to be wearing.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Vade Mecum:

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
And why does the deacon's alb appear to be covering his shoes? I bet he trips over it when he stands up.
Not at all. Any server/acolyte/subdeacon/deacon worth their salt knows how to rise, go down stairs balancing a tray, genuflect quickly, or generally swish about in a long dress...

Ha! don't assume anything. After over 40 years of wearing choir robes, I tripped up the steps at Saturday's Remembrance procession. Mind you, it helps if you can see which is rather difficult if you don't have a head. Perhaps with all that excessive bowing, it dropped off... [Biased]

Posted by NatDogg (# 14347) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Vade Mecum:

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
And why does the deacon's alb appear to be covering his shoes? I bet he trips over it when he stands up.
Not at all. Any server/acolyte/subdeacon/deacon worth their salt knows how to rise, go down stairs balancing a tray, genuflect quickly, or generally swish about in a long dress...

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on :

In our parish there are two adult men who take turns (more or less) in serving the daily Mass. I have nicknamed them (in my mind only) as 'Hitch' and 'Hooch' because the first hikes up his cassock almost to his knees before kneeling, as if he were about to wade in the water, and the second, as communion time approaches, squirms around from an eastward-facing position to a position facing the celebrant. (This wiggly sort of movement was what organists at uni called 'hooching.'
There are times when I have to pray with my eyes closed!

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

This could almost be grounds for a new thread. There was a priest in our old childhood parish who we used to call "Tom Tom" because his pronunciation of Latin always came out sounding like "Tom ta tom tom tom ta tom tom."

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